You can expect hectic year for road construction across Iowa; U.S. 20 four-lane almost finished statewide

Iowa's transportation system is made up of 114,000+ miles of road, 24,184 bridges, 107 publicly owned airports and 3,851 miles or railroad track.
Wochit

Construction work is shown in April 2017 on a U.S. Highway 20 four-lane corridor project near Correctionville in northwest Iowa. The four-lane project is scheduled to be finished across Iowa - between Sioux City and Dubuque - this fall.(Photo11: Iowa Department of Transportation photo)

Bolstered by a 10-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax and a push to complete a statewide expressway, the Iowa Department of Transportation plans to work on a near-record, $779 million worth of highway projects this construction season that will test motorists' patience.

The most significant project involves widening a 40-mile, two-lane corridor to four lanes on U.S. Highway 20 in northwest Iowa. This section — a multi-year project with a $286 million price tag — represents the final work on a long-awaited, 301-mile expressway across northern Iowa between Sioux City and Dubuque. A ribbon-cutting is planned this fall.

But major road construction will also be touching on areas all over the state. The Des Moines area and Ames, Council Bluffs, the Quad Cities, Waterloo and many other places are going to see orange cones before they get better roads.

"A lot of work will be going on," said Mark Bortle, a DOT traffic safety engineer. "Every time you see a black and orange sign, you need to obey it — and don’t speed. Don’t tailgate. Pay attention, and put your phone down."

Gas-tax hike at work

A key factor behind the heavy construction schedule is the dime-per-gallon state tax increase on gasoline and diesel fuel that took effect in 2015, said Stuart Anderson, director of the DOT's Planning, Programming and Modal Division. The extra revenue is providing an additional $200 million per year for Iowa road projects. This includes about $100 million for the DOT highways and about $100 million for city streets and county roads.

The biggest year ever in terms of money spent on state highway projects was in 2016, when slightly more than $800 million was programmed for construction work, according to Iowa DOT officials. But this year will come close.

U.S. 20 done, at last

The U.S. 20 project has been promoted by community leaders across the state since at least the 1960s, and construction crews have worked on segments of it for decades in piecemeal fashion. The final 40-mile stretch touches parts of Sac, Ida and Woodbury counties.

State Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, a commercial developer and entrepreneur who voted for the gas tax hike, said northwest Iowa residents are anxiously looking forward to having the U.S. 20 expressway completed this fall.

"This is going to be huge," Bertrand said. "People are excited and are embracing it. I think Iowans understand that if you build it, growth will come."

Shirley Phillips of Sac City, president of the U.S. 20 Highway Association, a corridor advocacy group that has lobbied DOT officials for years, said commercial and industrial development are expected to pick up along the route because of the highway's completion.

"We are thrilled," Phillips said. She envisions the four-lane highway will be a draw for truckers and other motorists as an alternative to Interstate 80 for east-west trips from border to border.

Traffic counts on U.S. 20 have recently ranged from about 15,000 vehicles per day in the Dubuque area to a little over 3,000 vehicles daily on the least-traveled section near Holstein, in northwest Iowa. But traffic is anticipated to increase in northwest Iowa after the final section of the corridor is opened.

Work zone cautions

Besides the U.S. 20 project, the DOT plans an ambitious schedule of road construction in other parts of Iowa over the spring, summer and fall months. This will require the establishment of about 500 work zones by the DOT, while cities and counties will have hundreds of work zones of their own.

Motorists traveling on state and interstate highways should look for extra enforcement by state troopers and DOT officers in work zones, plus other safety measures, Bortle said. This includes a high-tech initiative in selected areas that combines the use of electronic speed sensors, traffic sensors and electronic message boards to warn motorists of problems ahead.

Patrick Hoye, chief of the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, said he is especially encouraging motorists to put their mobile phones down and keep both hands on the steering wheel as they pass through construction zones.

"You should really just be watching the construction itself because it is a congested area and traffic is slowing down," Hoye said.

Where are the major projects?

Here is a look at some of the state's most significant highway construction projects that will be undertaken this year, according to DOT officials:

ANKENY: Work is underway on a three-year, $50 million project on I-35 in Ankeny to widen the freeway and construct a new diverging diamond interchange at First Street. The diverging diamond interchange is based on a standard diamond interchange with a shift in the traffic within the interchange to safely and efficiently accommodate high-volume, left-turn movements. A diverging diamond interchange has fewer conflict points, reducing the odds for crashes, and there is more capacity for vehicles.

Nearly 60,000 travelers per day move through the Ankeny project area, and DOT officials said they are working with law enforcement, local emergency responders, and towing companies on plans to keep traffic moving in the case of a traffic crash or incident. Every minute a lane is blocked not only creates delay and frustration for travelers but also increases the chance of a secondary crash by 2.8 percent, DOT officials said.

AMES: Construction continues for the second and final year of a project to rebuild about a two-mile stretch of I-35 south of Ames, including bridges over the Skunk River. A new "fly-over" ramp is also being built for northbound traffic turning west on U.S. 30 at the I-35/U.S. 30 interchange. The interchange project will replace the northeast loop of an existing cloverleaf ramp to help reduce conflicts in a short merging zone between vehicles leaving and entering the northbound lanes of I-35.

JASPER COUNTY: A new interchange is expected to be largely completed this year at Iowa Highways 117/330 on a busy route between Des Moines and Marshalltown. At least 11 people have been killed in traffic crashes in the area since 2003, and there have been more than 120 motor vehicle accidents. The project has generated controversy because it has taken land from organic vegetable farmer Larry Cleverley of Mingo.

TAMA COUNTY: Grading work has begun on an 11-mile section of U.S. Highway 30 from the Tama bypass to Benton County to construct a new four-lane corridor. This stretch is scheduled to be paved in 2020.

DUBUQUE SOUTHWEST ARTERIAL: This project is being built to provide a four-lane divided corridor on U.S. Highway 52 through southwest Dubuque, linking U.S.Highway 20 to U.S. Highways 151 and 61. It is intended to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion on Dubuque's road system and help the local economy. Grading is scheduled for this year and paving in 2019.

DES MOINES COUNTY: Work is starting on a multi-year grading and paving project for a 10-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 61 on four lanes between Burlington and Wapello. Paving is scheduled for 2020.

ELLSWORTH: The I-35 interchange at Ellsworth, about 25 miles north of Ames, is being reconstructed to become a standard diamond interchange. The work will start this year, but probably won't be finished until next year.

WATERLOO: A stretch of U.S. Highway 63 is under reconstruction through downtown Waterloo. The work began last year and will be completed in 2020. The project includes construction of a highway overpass to allow traffic to go over railroad tracks instead of having vehicles go under the railroad tracks.

COUNCIL BLUFFS: Major reconstruction of the urban interstate highway system is still underway on I-29, I-80 and I-480 for a project that began in 2008 and is scheduled to continue through 2024. At least two lanes will remain open in both directions during peak traffic hours.

SIOUX CITY: Major reconstruction of the urban interstate highway system will continue on I-29 with a focus on downtown work. At least two lanes will remain open in both directions during peak traffic hours. The project began in 2008 and is scheduled for completion in 2019.

QUAD CITIES: Construction is underway on a new Interstate Highway 74 bridge over the Mississippi in Bettendorf. The new bridge is being built upstream from the existing bridge. This project, which began in 2017 and will be finished in 2021, is being accomplished jointly by the Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation.

NORTHWEST IOWA: The U.S. 20 project has been promoted by community leaders across the state since at least the 1960s, and construction crews have worked on segments of it for decades in piecemeal fashion. The final 40-mile stretch, to be completed touches parts of Sac, Ida and Woodbury counties.

Penalties for speeding in an Iowa work zone:

$150 for up to 10 mph over the posted speed limit.$300 for speeds from 11 to 20 mph over the posted speed limit.$500 for speeds from 21 to 25 mph over the posted speed limit.$1,000 for speeds in excess of 25 mph over the posted speed limit.

Travel information

Road condition information: Dial 511 in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. If calling from out of state or from a phone system not participating in the 511 program, dial 800-288-1047 or go to 511ia.org.

Work zone safety tips

Stay alert: Dedicate your full attention to the roadway.Pay close attention: Signs and work zone employees with flags save lives.Turn on your headlights: Workers and other motorists must see you.Don't tailgate.Don't speed: Note the posted speed limits in and around the work zone.Keep up with the traffic flow.Don't change lanes in a work zone.Minimize distractions: Avoid changing radio stations and using mobile phones while driving through a work zone.Expect the unexpected: Keep an eye out for workers and their equipment.Be patient: Remember that work zone crew members are working to improve your future ride.